Hebel Matters

Hebel selected in apartment walls for project efficiency and added security

With over 40,000 high-rise apartments, hotel and student accommodation units featuring Hebel across Australia, it’s easy to understand why Hebel internal walls have emerged as the better choice for apartments.

Hebel systems can be used for a range of applications in apartment walls, including intertenancy, corridor, shaft and service walls, facades and balcony blades.

Architects, designers, builders, wall installers and developers turn to Hebel for its reputability as a proven system on the market, offering a great scope of benefits that extend across the project life-cycle and beyond.

Solid and secure

At the heart of the Hebel internal wall system is Hebel PowerPanel, a 75mm thick, steel-reinforced masonry panel made from aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC). PowerPanel is recognised for its solidness and security, making it highly attractive to property investors looking for long-term value from their investment.

Having solid and secure walls is also of great benefit to the end-user. Crown Group’s General Manager of Construction, Gary Cory reiterates this point when talking about the residents who live in Crown’s high-rise developments. “The owners and occupants of the apartments have peace-of-mind because of the safety and security that Hebel panels create between apartments,” he said.

 

Gary Cory – General Manager Construction for Crown Group

Mirvac has long-term experience in the Australian high rise apartment sector. Peter Cotton, National Practice Director for Mirvac Design said, “We are aware that purchasers prefer to see a solid, masonry type wall between apartments… they appreciate the fact that a Hebel wall can’t be easily cut or peeled away.”

Faster installation

Complimenting Hebel’s solidity is the speed at which Hebel walls are installed. Internal wall systems are lightweight, simple to install to BCA compliance and can be delivered on site to a specified size.

In terms of simplicity, the Hebel system enables faster installation, which is most noticeable when fire sealing each apartment. In an all plasterboard system fire-sealing needs to be done on both sides of the wall using three plasterboard sections  – a time-consuming process. With the Hebel system there’s just one fire-sealing position and no need for a third section of plasterboard.

Another benefit of using Hebel is that the systems don’t require fire-rated GPOs, a factor often unnoticed when looking at the cost and time efficiencies of a wall system. A further benefit with the Hebel system is the ease of service penetration compliance and reduction in rework due to non-compliance.

Craig Baudin, Director of Fender Katsalidis Architects believes Hebel internal walls are the best choice when considering project efficiency. “We’re convinced it’s the way to go. The feedback from builders I’ve worked with is that it is faster,” he said.

 

Director of Fender Katsalidis Architects Craig Baudin

Hebel’s internal wall systems are not only value-adding in terms of solidity and security but are also faster to install, assisting in the project being completed on time and on budget.